Two villas separated by a few streets do not necessarily face the same exposure. Orientation, relief, distance from the shore and shelter from neighbouring buildings change how salt and water reach facades, terraces and joinery. We begin by reading this actual exposure.
Diagnose interfaces, not only surfaces
Corrosion and water ingress readily appear at junctions: a guardrail fixing, threshold, coping, outlet or connection between two materials. On a villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, an intact facade may conceal an already weakened detail. The survey therefore covers details, falls and drainage as closely as the overall appearance.
We also look for the cause behind earlier repairs. Blistering paint, a renewed joint or a mark beneath a terrace should not be treated in isolation. The useful question is the path taken by water and the compatibility between substrate, protection and finish.
Choose compatible material assemblies
Durability does not come from a material merely being described as resistant. It depends on the metal grade, its fixing, contact with other metals, substrate preparation and the ability to maintain the whole. We establish these specifications with the manufacturers and relevant trades, then retain them in the execution details.
By the sea, the invisible detail often receives the harshest exposure.
Plan maintenance during the renovation
A coastal residence must be inspectable, cleanable and repairable without disproportionate dismantling. Outlets remain accessible, joints can be checked and exposed parts can be replaced. This principle guides our bespoke finishes as much as the aesthetic choice.
Between Cap d’Antibes and the eastern coast, the architectural vocabulary changes but the method remains the same: observe, specify, execute, then provide clear maintenance guidance. Prestige is not a motionless surface. It is a residence that ages with grace.
